The FM21 Youth Academy Challenge

[XaW]

Getting some BIG bids in now, but been able to keep everyone happy.... so far!

And it gets worse!

Edited February 27, 2021 by XaW

[Armeniar]

Great to see so many of you guys making progress! 

I had an incredibly busy week, hope to get back to my Sedan Ardennes asap. Really miss it 

Edited February 27, 2021 by Armeniar

[Raffen]

So now my most talented players doesn't want to sign contract extensions because my "squad isn't strong enough". Fingers crossed they see sense before the end of the season 

[Tilling]

Anyone got any recommendations for teams to try and holiday for promoting teams in Brazil or Argentina? Looking for fallen giants with decent infrastructure, á la Kaiserslautern or Palermo?

 

@Cheez3y you were managing ABCFC if I remember right, what happened there?

 

[Tilling]

18 minutes ago, Raffen said:

So now my most talented players doesn't want to sign contract extensions because my "squad isn't strong enough". Fingers crossed they see sense before the end of the season 

This killed my most recent attempt at this with Alania Vladikavkaz; kept straddling the line between top division and second division because the team was carried by two or three players - there really isn't any convincing them in my experience I'm afraid, if you do keep them let me know what you did!

[Raffen]

9 minutes ago, Tilling said:

This killed my most recent attempt at this with Alania Vladikavkaz; kept straddling the line between top division and second division because the team was carried by two or three players - there really isn't any convincing them in my experience I'm afraid, if you do keep them let me know what you did!

I have a small hope that we'll stay in our current league position (2nd) until the midway point of the season, and they think we might be decent after all. But think it's unlikely. I guess 2-3 players maybe just have too much PA to agree to stay in the lowest divisions. Duncan Trotter 37a is a 5 star ability player now, after turning 16 years old a week ago. Youth upgrades seems to work, but maybe a tad too well in one or two cases 

Edited February 27, 2021 by Raffen

[Raffen]

4 minutes ago, Raffen said:

I have a small hope that we'll stay in our current league position (2nd) until the midway point of the season, and they think we might be decent after all. But think it's unlikely. I guess 2-3 players maybe just have too much PA to agree to stay in the lowest divisions. Duncan Trotter 37a is a 5 star ability player now, after turning 16 years old a week ago. Youth upgrades seems to work, but maybe a tad too well in one or two cases 

Alternatively, some more of the U18s develop really fast into first team players

[Tilling]

16 minutes ago, Raffen said:

I have a small hope that we'll stay in our current league position (2nd) until the midway point of the season, and they think we might be decent after all. But think it's unlikely. I guess 2-3 players maybe just have too much PA to agree to stay in the lowest divisions. Duncan Trotter 37a is a 5 star ability player now, after turning 16 years old a week ago. Youth upgrades seems to work, but maybe a tad too well in one or two cases 

I had a load of 3* players, of a decent standard for the league below, and then a goalie, a DM, and a striker all of 5*... seeing them all go at once just killed my enthusiasm haha.

To be fair, I'm really impressed at people who keep these going; how do you not lose faith when you've just got no way of changing the team around? 

[Raffen]

Just now, Tilling said:

I had a load of 3* players, of a decent standard for the league below, and then a goalie, a DM, and a striker all of 5*... seeing them all go at once just killed my enthusiasm haha.

To be fair, I'm really impressed at people who keep these going; how do you not lose faith when you've just got no way of changing the team around? 

One of them suddenly wanted to sign a contract. Two others  not keen at all, both of them now wanted by League 2 teams... Could be a PA difference thing regarding the first one I guess? Losing the GK I can handle as I have one other that looks almost as good. The left back though will be a blow.

Been struggling a while tbh, but the FA cup windfall of a million euros lit a small spark again. Almost got to the 3rd round again this season, but lost in the 91st minute to Rochdale. Wouldn't have been top tier 3rd round opponent this time, only a struggling Championship side, but still.

I think the last youth intake was a bit of a gold mine though. More than one 16 year old who is good enough for the main squad now. Staying patient with a lot of them for now as I think they might develop better in the youth setup, at least until they get too good to ignore 

[hyrule_king]

Season 4 Review

 

Need to tweak my tactic to try and not concede as many goals. No idea how I stayed up.

 

Edited February 27, 2021 by hyrule_king

[Gbrexiton]

1 hour ago, Tilling said:

Anyone got any recommendations for teams to try and holiday for promoting teams in Brazil or Argentina? Looking for fallen giants with decent infrastructure, á la Kaiserslautern or Palermo?

 

@Cheez3y you were managing ABCFC if I remember right, what happened there?

 

• Energie Cottbus (Germany)
• Clube de Futebol Os Belenenses (Portugal) (Many had concerns with this club though
• KSC Lokeren-Temse (Belgium)

[keeper#1]

Taking a gamble with a new HOYD.  Dropping down from a "resolute" personality to "balanced" personality while increasing the reputation of the HOYD.  Hoping the better reputation yields better players.

[ravenation]

So we had 2 players in the English U19 champion team

Rhys Pearson in the dream team and golden boot winner with 3 goals.

And we are officially a rich club now.

Ready for PL debut against Chelsea - there can be only one real blue team!

[keeper#1]

We have our first youth international.  We've had a couple of players with U19 caps but this is our first player who has a youth cap at the highest youth level for their country.

[Marazola]

Intake day.

I got one decent striker, but other than that it's not a great intake. Regardless it's far better than the previous ones.

[TheGreatTraveler]

SC Freamunde

Season 10 - 2030/2031

Transfers - Past Positions - Best XI - Youth Intake - Finances

Season Summary - 13th

With us now in the Second Division, we were invited to participate in the League Cup for the first time, which begins during pre-season. The board expected nothing and so did I. So I was pleasantly surprised when we beat another second division side 4-1 in the first game to then beat 1st division Santa Clara 1-0 in the second round and earn ourselves a spot in the groupstage. We are incredible, I remember thinking. 

First game of the league season was against fellow promoted side Porto B. And we smashed them, 4-0, and to the top of the league we go. We really were flying. And then, we weren't. Over the next three months, we lost 7 league games and tied one, also losing all three League Cup group stage games (against higher level oposition to be fair) and getting kicked out of the PT Cup. An instant return to the third tier seemed on the cards. 

For the first time in the save, I changed formations, dropping the wingers into wide-midfield to play with a 4-1-4-1. I also made our DM become an anchor man instead of a BWM. Instantly the team looked much more solid defensively, which seemed to benefit our attack as well. We lost the first game with the new formation despite being the better side, but then went on a 10 match unbeaten streak, winning 5, to get ourselves out of the relegation spots and with some breathing room. The rest of the season was inconsistent, as we won a few on the bounce, then lost again. Survival was secured with a few games to go and I couldn't be any happier about it. Highlight has to be the fact that we beat Champions Gil Vicente and 2nd placed Lusitana Lourosa both home and away this season, showing that when we show up we really can beat anyone.

Off the Field

As I mentioned in the thread, Belarmino Costa - YP1a became a legend years after leaving the club as he secured a 50M transfer to Atletico Madrid that left 24.75M in our coffers. Some of the money has been spent already on new training facilities and youth facilities. The club wants a new stadium too so don't be surprised to see that coming soon.

Prospects worth Noting 

No defenders here and that's for a reason, they can't seem to play consitently well.

Ailton Lopes - YP1d (GK) - Another season in goal, and he made me proud with something like 5 penalty saves. Getting called up for the Cape Verde national team but still no first cap.

Gustavo Gomes - YP1k (ST/AML/AMR) - I really struggle to understand how he is so good. Still just with 3 finishing, he got 19 goals and 5 assists in his first season at this level, and all that despite starting the season with a drought before I changed tactics.

Gustavo Cassiano - (AML/AMC/ML) - (5th intake) Had to be retrained at ML, but within a month he was a natural putting in great performances. 7 goals and 6 assists aren't bad. The 5 year deal he signed isn't either, except for the pesky release clause I hope to negotiate.

Daniel Andre - YP6b (AMR/MR) - Our star player in terms of CA, he spent most of the season grumbling that he wanted to leave but still putting in great performances. No goals for him, but he was our top assister with 8. Hoping I can get him to sign a new deal as his contract expires next summer, but if not a sell with a good future clause may be good.

Youth Intake

Amazing. Cannot wait to feed this guys through the pipeline, and having Gustavo Campos - YP10a gives me tranquility about potentially selling Andre. Rightfully earnt the golden generation tag, and my HOYD a 2 year extension.

Next Season

Survive, improve, continue to bleed youngsters into the side. Not a lot of changes from last year to this one as we tried to survive, but to continue improving we'll need to see new players come into the side.

[Marazola]

7 games left in the split coming up. First time we are in with a genuine shot by this point of the season.

[Marazola]

Season done.

This is the closest we've been to getting promoted. Despite finishing 6th and being 11 behind 2nd, we were with a genuine shot with 5 games left. Unfortunately we hit some bad form in the end stage and that was that.

[Marazola]

Intake day.

Again, nothing special. It could be that the bar has been raised higher these past couple of seasons.

[vikeologist]

10 hours ago, Tilling said:

Anyone got any recommendations for teams to try and holiday for promoting teams in Brazil or Argentina? Looking for fallen giants with decent infrastructure, á la Kaiserslautern or Palermo?

 

@Cheez3y you were managing ABCFC if I remember right, what happened there?

 

Can't see any fallen giants in Argentina.

8 hours ago, keeper#1 said:

Taking a gamble with a new HOYD.  Dropping down from a "resolute" personality to "balanced" personality while increasing the reputation of the HOYD.  Hoping the better reputation yields better players.

 

Does reputation even play a part. Honestly don't know. 

What's his media handling? 

 

 

Edited February 28, 2021 by vikeologist

[Cheez3y]

10 hours ago, Tilling said:

 

@Cheez3y you were managing ABCFC if I remember right, what happened there?

 

Went in the bin, because there were registration issues with the state cup. (youth player rules)

 

After I finish my KSA save, I will be back here.

I only need to choose if I continue my Berwick (SCO) save, start my Campinense (BRA) save or do something new with the new patch.

Edited February 28, 2021 by Cheez3y

[Marazola]

Season done.

I won't lie, this was the hardest season to accept. We were 10 points clear by February and ended up finishing in 4th.

[JLAB]

ACN Siena 1904 - 2032/33 Season Review

It's finally happened, Siena are back in Serie A for the first time since 2013, when the team got relegated just a year before the original era of the club founded. We left it very late and probably made it harder for ourselves, losing the last game of the season and having to rely on Crotone failing to win to secure ourselves 2nd place, but we finally did it. We're back in the Serie A, and we have gotten a way to ensure that our finances won't be suffering for at least a couple of years, even if we get relegated next season with the weakest team in Serie A.

The beginning of what I could only call our financial repair started with this message of the £2.81M prize money for finishing in 2nd place. Immediately we could start to work on repairing the financial damage that playing in the Serie B had done to us. 

Especially with the financial projection that has been presented to us as a result of us getting promoted to Serie A, it makes me realise just how much money we can make just from the TV Revenue, which in itself is rather ridiculous. It makes me appreciate just how much we needed to get back into the Serie A after spending so many years away from the top flight of Italian football. The goal now would be to stay in the division for many years to come, and then to beat the original club's best ever finish of 13th place. Can we do that? I don't know.

In other news, getting promoted automatically with Siena made me a very well respected manager who was capable of doing really good things. So it goes to show just how much the media and the other managers liked what I had achieved.

Jack Oliver was our star striker once again this year, scoring 37 goals in 40 matches in all competitions, including 34 in 38 in the league. He was only 2 goals from breaking the all-time top goalscorer record in Serie B, but fell 1 goal short of matching it. What he did do though, was become the all-time top goalscorer for Siena with 102 league goals for the club. We'll be needing his goals next season if we are to survive in Serie A, in a league, I'm 100% expecting to be relegated from in our first season, something that Siena has never actually done before.

Last season, Fofana was really good for us with 14 goals and 8 assists in the league. This season, he surpassed those numbers as he managed to get 11 goals and 15 assists, being the man with the most assists in the league last season as a result. It was by far and away his best ever season and the new Ivory Coast international has been enjoying himself as of late, showing the kind of promise that I knew he had in him. However, the only downside of this at the moment is that I don't know if he is good enough to continue doing those sorts of numbers in Serie A. Only time will tell.

[hyrule_king]

El Capitano 

 

Edited February 28, 2021 by hyrule_king

[djsterry]

Currently managing in Turkey I got promoted 1st season, relegated on the 2nd but I haven't received any end of season prize money . Is this a bug ? Or do you just get nothing in the Turkish leagues?

[Tilling]

11 hours ago, Gbrexiton said:

• Energie Cottbus (Germany)
• Clube de Futebol Os Belenenses (Portugal) (Many had concerns with this club though
• KSC Lokeren-Temse (Belgium)

Wow, is the Belenenses one another Wimbledon style thing where there's two teams split from the other?

[Marazola]

1 hour ago, JLAB said:

ACN Siena 1904 - 2032/33 Season Review

It's finally happened, Siena are back in Serie A for the first time since 2013, when the team got relegated just a year before the original era of the club founded. We left it very late and probably made it harder for ourselves, losing the last game of the season and having to rely on Crotone failing to win to secure ourselves 2nd place, but we finally did it. We're back in the Serie A, and we have gotten a way to ensure that our finances won't be suffering for at least a couple of years, even if we get relegated next season with the weakest team in Serie A.

The beginning of what I could only call our financial repair started with this message of the £2.81M prize money for finishing in 2nd place. Immediately we could start to work on repairing the financial damage that playing in the Serie B had done to us. 

Especially with the financial projection that has been presented to us as a result of us getting promoted to Serie A, it makes me realise just how much money we can make just from the TV Revenue, which in itself is rather ridiculous. It makes me appreciate just how much we needed to get back into the Serie A after spending so many years away from the top flight of Italian football. The goal now would be to stay in the division for many years to come, and then to beat the original club's best ever finish of 13th place. Can we do that? I don't know.

In other news, getting promoted automatically with Siena made me a very well respected manager who was capable of doing really good things. So it goes to show just how much the media and the other managers liked what I had achieved.

Jack Oliver was our star striker once again this year, scoring 37 goals in 40 matches in all competitions, including 34 in 38 in the league. He was only 2 goals from breaking the all-time top goalscorer record in Serie B, but fell 1 goal short of matching it. What he did do though, was become the all-time top goalscorer for Siena with 102 league goals for the club. We'll be needing his goals next season if we are to survive in Serie A, in a league, I'm 100% expecting to be relegated from in our first season, something that Siena has never actually done before.

Last season, Fofana was really good for us with 14 goals and 8 assists in the league. This season, he surpassed those numbers as he managed to get 11 goals and 15 assists, being the man with the most assists in the league last season as a result. It was by far and away his best ever season and the new Ivory Coast international has been enjoying himself as of late, showing the kind of promise that I knew he had in him. However, the only downside of this at the moment is that I don't know if he is good enough to continue doing those sorts of numbers in Serie A. Only time will tell.

Excuse the ignorance - where did Jack Oliver come from (as in, HOYD, scout, etc)? He's quality and it's quite unlucky to have a non-EU in Italy  

(also saw you are vlogging this, well in as I've done similar with Y/O's in the past)

[JLAB]

1 minute ago, Marazola said:

Excuse the ignorance - where did Jack Oliver come from (as in, HOYD, scout, etc)? He's quality and it's quite unlucky to have a non-EU in Italy  

(also saw you are vlogging this, well in as I've done similar with Y/O's in the past)

My HoYD is Scottish, but my manager has knowledge of England, as do some of my backroom staff, so he probably came from there. He's my only true Non-EU player that I have.

[JLAB]

Quick question for everyone. How much world knowledge do you currently have at your clubs as of this moment in time? I'm currently in November 2033 and have 26% world knowledge.

[djsterry]

4 minutes ago, JLAB said:

Quick question for everyone. How much world knowledge do you currently have at your clubs as of this moment in time? I'm currently in November 2033 and have 26% world knowledge.

I don't know if everyone would agree but I hire all my scouts based on pre existing knowledge and don't hire scouts for the nation I'm based in . This increases you knowledge quickly in my experience

[Brentmeister]

25 minutes ago, Tilling said:

Wow, is the Belenenses one another Wimbledon style thing where there's two teams split from the other?

They are! There's a small issue there though, they only had 5 season ticket holders when I was there, and it apparently doesn't ever increase. Could be a game breaker the longer you are in the lower divisions. Great team and infrastructure though. Almost a clean slate with a history waiting to be written.

 

 

Edited February 28, 2021 by Brentmeister

[Brentmeister]

13 hours ago, Tilling said:

Anyone got any recommendations for teams to try and holiday for promoting teams in Brazil or Argentina? Looking for fallen giants with decent infrastructure, á la Kaiserslautern or Palermo?

 

@Cheez3y you were managing ABCFC if I remember right, what happened there?

 

You can use this site to check for the teams promoted to Brazil 3rd div. I don't think it's cheating as all the info is available when you pick a team

Looking at it, Mirassol seem to have a good starting point. Decent crowds and infrastructure.

Edited February 28, 2021 by Brentmeister

[Tilling]

6 minutes ago, Brentmeister said:

They are! There's a small issue there though, they only had 5 season ticket holders when I was there, and it apparently doesn't ever increase. Could be a game breaker the longer you are in the lower divisions. Great team and infrastructure though. Almost a clean slate with a history waiting to be written.

 

 

 

That's wild; is there any clue as to why that is? Is that not something that could be fixed in the editor?

[Brentmeister]

1 minute ago, Tilling said:

 

That's wild; is there any clue as to why that is? Is that not something that could be fixed in the editor?

No idea!...and i'm also a bit stupid when it comes to the editor and have no clue how to use it!

[JAwtunes]

12 hours ago, keeper#1 said:

Taking a gamble with a new HOYD.  Dropping down from a "resolute" personality to "balanced" personality while increasing the reputation of the HOYD.  Hoping the better reputation yields better players.

This chap once coached my kids in a holiday club thing at our local non-league team. Hope he does well for you!

[JLAB]

I hate my player's agent. I know that it's likely my player demanding that this gets put in, but even so. 

Brondi's been amazing for me this season and is worth £4.3M.

However, they're demanding a low minimum release clause in their contract. The agent prefers his clients to stay at his current clubs, so I know that it's my player, who is fickle, therefore ambitious wanting to force this into the contract. How can I force the player to back down with the minimum release clause demands?

[vikeologist]

1 hour ago, JLAB said:

Quick question for everyone. How much world knowledge do you currently have at your clubs as of this moment in time? I'm currently in November 2033 and have 26% world knowledge.

I only have 5% world knowledge.

I'm not convinced that increasing this will necessarily help, but I have 2 empty scout slots, plus a chief scout that has no upside at all, and no scouts with good personalities wanting to join, so I may as well fill them up with some foreigners.

I'd have to say though that my intakes are extremely international, even though most foreigners are born in Folkestone with a second nationality.

[djsterry]

On 11/11/2020 at 22:39, lloyd_doyley said:

Love the new end of season screens!

 

They never work for me, it freezes on the first page and I have to go on Manager holiday for a day to continue

[djsterry]

1 hour ago, JLAB said:

I hate my player's agent. I know that it's likely my player demanding that this gets put in, but even so. 

Brondi's been amazing for me this season and is worth £4.3M.

However, they're demanding a low minimum release clause in their contract. The agent prefers his clients to stay at his current clubs, so I know that it's my player, who is fickle, therefore ambitious wanting to force this into the contract. How can I force the player to back down with the minimum release clause demands?

I kept backing out of the negotiations and going back but I couldn't get them to budge on it, really annoying when you don't even have an option to negotiate

[hyrule_king]

4TH Season is not going well, 15 games 12 losses. My Youth players from the first season are progressing nicely and i have 5 in the first team now but it is a real struggle, may be the end of the horn church era and reload the 19th June next season and a new team.

Adapted someone elses (Apologies for forgetting who to credit) spreadsheet to include best positions and a drop down box for the whole squad , so i can train each player in there best position and role.

Edited February 28, 2021 by hyrule_king

[JAwtunes]

Widzew Lodz (FM20)

Season 9 (2028-29) - Review

On the pitch

Starting 11

Domestic: PKO Ekstraklasa - 1st, Polish Cup - Winners

Spoiler

League

Cup

Europe: UEFA Champions League - Group stage (6 points, so not too bad)

Off the pitch

Youth intake

Spoiler

Players

Spoiler

2029 intake

 

Spoiler

Top players (the 2027 golden generation are starting to make their mark)

 

SUMMARY

Edited March 7, 2021 by JAwtunes

[hyrule_king]

1 minute ago, JAwtunes said:

Widzew Lodz (FM20)

Season 8 (2028-29) - Review

On the pitch

Starting 11

Domestic: PKO Ekstraklasa - 1st, Polish Cup - Winners

  Reveal hidden contents

League

Cup

Europe: UEFA Champions League - Group stage (6 points, so not too bad)

Off the pitch

Youth intake

  Reveal hidden contents

Players

  Reveal hidden contents

2029 intake

 

  Reveal hidden contents

Top players (the 2027 golden generation are starting to make their mark)

 

SUMMARY

Is that a 4411 you are using?

[JAwtunes]

Just now, hyrule_king said:

Is that a 4411 you are using?

Yeah, in FM20.  I always try to build a reliable 442ish tactics - im old school.

[keeper#1]

7 hours ago, vikeologist said:

Can't see any fallen giants in Argentina.

Does reputation even play a part. Honestly don't know. 

What's his media handling? 

 

 

I don't know if does either but it's an experiment I'm willing to try.

His media-handling: media-friendly

So, I'm getting as neutral as a personality/media-handling combination that you can have.

[AlwaysNalah]

Ive got to say I've always been sceptical when I read first season success in this threads, but wow what a season we have just had, its the best fun I've had playing FM in a while. After the Xmas break we tore through the last batch of games dropping only 4 points and scoring for fun. Next season I am confident we will be in or around the bottom by the split of the league but we have more than enough quality to stay up. Team wise we have 3 players who are considered 'decent Fortuna Liga', and our new crop of intake contained 4 5* potential, which means they could hopefully be in or around that level in a few years. This save is very different to my previous in that we have a solid foundational team so a lot of the youngsters will settle for B team action next year with the top 4-5 in the main squad as rotational options, rather than being forced straight in because we needed them. 

The intake also increased the determination of the squad by a good chunk with 8 13+ players in the batch. 

 

All round great season, played good football, bedded in 3 of the 0 Year players and phased out 2 of the older players. Finances looking ropey, but we have an average attendance of over 3k so should be fin if we keep wages in check. I did notice my DOF was managing the intake for some reason, think I have fixed that now,

 

 

[ATW]

Just about to start this again - is there a reason why Greece is not one of the Nations to choose from?  Is it because it has only two "playable" leagues? 

[JAwtunes]

6 hours ago, JLAB said:

Quick question for everyone. How much world knowledge do you currently have at your clubs as of this moment in time? I'm currently in November 2033 and have 26% world knowledge.

Mine is 39% after 9 seasons.  I have only had one non-Polish youth player in that time (FM20).

[keeper#1]

For the 3rd year in a row, the ping pong balls bounce our way.

 

[Brentmeister]

2 hours ago, ATW said:

Just about to start this again - is there a reason why Greece is not one of the Nations to choose from?  Is it because it has only two "playable" leagues? 

It could be because nobody has played there yet and/or posted a start or reload date? Lots of 2 tier systems are eligible, Netherlands and Austria come to mind.

[djsterry]

End of season Review 1,2 and 3  

Had some issues with my internet connection so I'm doing all 3 seasons in one

1st season- promotion via the play offs

NO progression with facilities etc due to finances

2nd season relegation- bottom of  the league completely outclassed including a 13 loss streak at the end of the season

Season 3 

Won the league with a game to spare

some really good performances this year

 

Youth Intakes have been kind to me so far considering I have made no improvements an have a bang average HOYD

 

best youngster so far

 

Looks good to me considering the level I'm at 

Unfortunately I have very poor coaches so he wont reach his potential

 

Finances are very tough in turkey

 

Ive cut the wage bill and really slimmed down the squad but still losing money

Any improvement is going to be very difficult